Back to photostream

Yb 2.0: MOT coil closeup

The square profile copper wire is hollow for carrying cooling water along with the ~120A needed to great a huge magnetic field gradient in the center of the optical chamber. When combined with polarized resonant laser beams, the large magnetic gradient forms a magneto-optical trap for capturing, cooling, and confining ytterbium atoms.

 

The 120A current in the coils must be switched off quickly (~30ms) before we proceed with spectroscopy. The inductive kick results in pretty violent vibration, which we try to minimize with a slick mounting scheme.

3,799 views
0 faves
12 comments
Uploaded on August 31, 2011
Taken on August 31, 2011